Reading Journal

A personal library of thoughts.
I reflect on the books I’m reading—capturing insights that sparked something in me, lessons that stuck, and ideas that seeped into my writing. It’s part reading journal, part inspiration archive, and always a space for discovery.

Oscar Shinozuka 1/19/21 Oscar Shinozuka 1/19/21

Jake Adelstein: Tokyo Vice

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Continuing with my research on Japan, I picked up this book to learn more about the Yakuza—the Japanese mafia. Apart from the tattoos and finger cutting, I’ve heard them be described as a “necessary evil”—some members are even treated as celebrities, and so, I’ve always been fascinated with how they operate and why some people believe they’re “necessary.”